2. The Countdown to Christmas
• In Great Britain: Shops can start selling
Christmas items from August. This
year Harrods opened its festive shop
on the 26th July!
• In the USA: Christmas shopping
officially starts the day after
Thanksgiving, known as ‘Black Friday’.
However, shops can start selling items
from September.
3. The Countdown to Christmas
• People put up Christmas decorations
and the Christmas tree on the 1st of
December and take them down 12
days after Christmas day.
• During the month of December people
have a chocolate advent calendar
which counts down the days until
Christmas with a different chocolate
every day.
4. Christmas Performances in the UK
• Pantomime shows are traditionally
performed from mid December
until January. Pantomimes are well-
known fairy tales that have been
adapted to be humourous.
• Children perform the Nativity Play
at schools which recounts the birth
of Jesus.
• In the USA they show the Nativity
Play in church, not in school.
5. On Christmas Eve
Children….
• Write a letter to Father Christmas
• Leave a Carrot for the Reindeer to eat
• Leave milk and cookies for Father Christmas
• Hang up their stockings
6. Christmas Day Routine in the UK
• In the morning, all of the family open their presents.
• The family then all eat Christmas dinner together – the
biggest meal of the year!
• At 3pm most people watch the Queen’s speech where the
Queen talks about the years major events and gives her
personal feelings. It is broadcast throughout the
Commonwealth countries.
• For dinner people eat the leftovers of lunch.
7. Christmas Dinner
Turkey Roast Potatoes Brussel Sprouts
Cranberry and
Bread Sauce
Carrots and Parsnips
Pigs in Blankets
Chestnut Stuffing Gravy
8. UK Tradition: Christmas Cracker
Before you can eat your meal
everybody must pull a
Christmas cracker.
Inside the cracker there is
usually a paper crown, a joke,
and a small toy.
Whoever is left with the
larger portion of cracker can
keep the gifts.
11. 26th December – Boxing Day
• Boxing day is a national holiday and another day to spend
with family.
• Traditionally, it was a day off for servants when they received
a ‘Christmas Box’ from the master. The servants would also go
home to give ‘Christmas Boxes’ to their families.
• Nowadays, it is an important day for sport. Horse racing is
particularly popular with meets all over the country. Many of
the best football teams play on Boxing Day.
• It is also a day for shopping because it is when the sales start.
